A review by bnat
The Vegetarian by Han Kang

challenging dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Really well written book. It was gripping. I can't say I fully enjoyed it because two of the point of view characters were disgusting, intolerable men and it was hard to read their accounting of events, but that was the point and it was effective. It was a sad, discomfiting tale of the violations that women are subjected to in all aspects of their lives, mostly by men but sometimes other women as well, and what it means to have freedom and control over yourself. It'll definitely linger with me.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail